This is an archived article and the information in the story may be outdated. Please check the time stamp on the story to see when it was updated last.
Props to you for deciding to write your own vows. Putting your love for your partner on paper is no easy feat, especially if you're stuck with a bad case of writer's block. We're here to lend a helping hand during your stressful writing, revising, and rewriting process. We rounded up 7 things you should never forget when writing your vows.
[Photos: Shutterstock]
Timing. If you babble on for 5 whole minutes and your husband gets right down to the point in 30 seconds, the vows just seem a bit off. You don't have to read them to each other beforehand, but give a rough estimate of how long yours will run. Try to keep them around the same amount of time. Also, please don't babble for 5 whole minutes.
Writing them down. PLEASE, under no circumstances should you ever try to memorize your wedding vows. You might know them by heart every time you've practiced in front of your mirror, but saying them in front of a crowd of the nearest and dearest people in your life is a game changer. We promise having a stack of notecards or a piece of paper does not look tacky. Trust us, that will be your lifeline, and you can ask the MOH to hold it during the ceremony.
Planning ahead. If you're a world-class procrastinator, now is the time to change your ways. Seriously—you don't want to be stuck with cheesy vows because you didn't give yourself enough time to write them. Start putting pen to paper at least a month or two before the wedding after all the major planning has already been taken care of. Sit down in a quiet spot and write your little heart out!
Talking about the future. Your vows should show your husband why you fell in love with him and want to marry him, but you should also talk about the future of your marriage. Martha Stewart Weddings recommends making promises to your partner in your wedding vows. Go beyond the usual "in sickness and health" line and get personal.
Emotion. Bring on the water works—writing vows is much more emotional than you might think. Tears most likely will be shed when writing and even saying your vows, so have a steady supply of tissues nearby.
Having fun. Reciting your vows deson't have to be a completely serious affair. Toss in a little bit of humor, but don't make it forced. You still want to keep it meaningful and sincere, so try not to start cracking jokes.
Securing a microphone. Blood, sweat, and definitely tears probably went into your wedding vows, so you don't want them to go unheard. Double check with your venue to see if they can provide a functioning microphone so that grandma doesn't have to turn her hearing aids all the way up.
